Ornamental winter Hibiscus moscheutos named ‘Morrison-Gilberg (IX)’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct hybrid variety  Hibiscus moscheutos  cultivar, particularly distinguished by having flowers of from nine to eleven inches in diameter that are deep pink (Red-Purple Group 73A) at the margins with somewhat paler pink (Red-Purple Group 73C) toward the center of each petal, with a deeper red eye (Red Group 45A). The length of the blooming cycle is about four to five weeks. The flowers, which have completely overlapping petals, retain their flat shape for two full days, except when temperatures are exceptionally warm. Distinguishing characteristics are constant and stable in asexually reproduced plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofherbaceous perennial, more particularly to a hybrid variety of hibiscus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was developed by William L. Morrison as a progeny bycross-pollination in a garden in Park Ridge, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.The plant was originally produced as a seedling and has beensuccessfully asexually reproduced by root crown division in a greenhouselocated in the backyard of William Morrison, 1023 West Crescent Avenue,Park Ridge, Ill. 60068. The plant has also been reproduced by vegetativereproduction, i.e., by tip and stem cuttings. The original seedling hadparentage of ‘Red Plate’ (unpatented) pollen parent and ‘King Size’(unpatented) seed parent, both of which are cultivars of Hibiscusmoscheutos grown and named by William L. Morrison. The present cultivaris a herbaceous perennial; the stalks die back to ground level everywinter and new stalks emerge in late spring. The trade name “MAUNA KEA”has been coined for this cultivar, although the cultivar was neithermarketed nor was its existence made public prior to the filing of thepresent plant patent application.

The present cultivar is distinguished by having flowers of from nine toeleven inches in diameter. These unusually large flowers can be cut andused for centerpiece displays. By comparison, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis(Chinese Hibiscus Rose of China) flowers are two to six inches indiameter, and Hibiscus syriacus (Rose-of-Sharon or Althea) flowers arethree to six inches in diameter.

The flowers of the present cultivar may be distinguished from its pollenparent's smaller red blooms and its seed parent's large white bloomswith pink edges. While its blooms are the same size as those of its seedparent, the blooms of the present cultivar retain their flat shape 2-3days longer, and its blooming cycle is 2-3 weeks longer than either ofits parents. Additionally, the present cultivar has completelyoverlapping petals.

The greatest number of flowers for the present cultivar was obtained inenvironments of half to full sun. The largest flowers were obtained atsummer temperatures from 70 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Smaller flowerswere observed to bloom at temperatures as low as 50 to 60 degreesFahrenheit.

Reproduction by root crown division consistently produces plants withidentical, stable characteristics. A further botanical description ofthe new variety follows below. In the following descriptions, colorreferences are made to The R.H.S. Colour Chart (1995, The RoyalHorticultural Society), except where general terms of ordinarysignificance are used. Distinguishing color characteristics are listedon the attached Plant Color Coding Sheet. The distinguishingcharacteristics listed thereon should not necessarily be assumed to beexhaustive. Although the listed characteristics are believed to be theprimary distinguishing color characteristics of the cultivar, it ispossible that others may become evident upon further observation andcomparison with other cultivars. These descriptions were made fromspecimens reproduced and grown under greenhouse and outdoor gardeningconditions in suburban St. Louis, Mo.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing clearly depicts the new variety, showing thecolors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a coloredreproduction of this type. Actual flower, leaf, sepal, and bud colorsmay differ from flower, leaf, sepal, and bud colors in the photographdue to light reflectance.

The drawing is a close-up view of freshly cut portions of the Hibiscusmoscheutos named ‘Morrison-Gilberg (IX)’ cultivar of the presentinvention, showing the flower, leaves and sepal surrounding the flowerbud in great detail.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Form: Numerous stalks grow upright from perennial roots.

Habit: Individual stalks with many leaves uniformly distributed on thestalk and numerous flowers bloom continuously. Rapid and strong stalkgrowth have flowers facing outward.

Productivity: Produces continuous new flower displays, vigorous andprofuse.

Precocity: Elegant displays of flowers, each stalk displaying one newflower after another. On each stalk, as one flower closes and its petalsfall off, a flower next to it and closer to the top of the stalk blooms,so that the displays appear to be continuous. The display periods mayvary depending upon climate and the vigor of particular specimens.

Stalks: Mature presentations occur the first year. Strong and smoothskin covered, and hold many leaves and flowers securely. Staking istypically not required under normal full sun growing conditions.However, specimens grown in shaded sunlight produce stalks that aresofter and that may require staking. New stalks emerge in May.

Temperature: Winter hardy during freezing winters. On 100 degree(Fahrenheit) days, the flowers bloom equally as they do on a mild day.

Insects and mollusks: Negligible insect damage has occurred to date inany individual plant, even though no pesticides have been used, and noslugs have been observed on the plants.

Animals: Rodents, rabbits and squirrels have not been observed to botherthe stalks or roots.

Rooting: The plants root easily without fertilizer and send out theirroots quickly and securely.

Foliage: Large leaves evenly distributed vertically and horizontally onthe stalks.

Leaves: Abundant and decorative in alternate order. Medium to dark greenleaves with margin lengths of from three to seven inches in elongatedheart form. Typical leaves are seven inches long by about three to fourinches wide at the widest part. Top color is Green Group 132B, bottomcolor is Green Group 139B. Shape is generally cordate, with somewhatirregular crenate margins. Leaf tips are apiculate, bases are cordate,and the venation is pinnate. Texture is matte. Petioles are from two tofour and one-half inches. No stipules.

Stems: Green Group 138B.

Petiole color: Lighter green (Green Group 138C) than the leaves.

Height: Mature plants are from three to five and one-half feet inheight.

Shape of plant at maturity: Rounded, extremely bushy, almostglobe-shaped.

THE FLOWERS

Buds: Shaped like a pointed egg and very large one to two days beforeblooming. Red-Purple Group 58B. Very large, can be up to four inches inlength. A typical bud measures about three inches in length by about oneand one-half inches at its widest point.

Blooming habit: Continuous and free blooming.

Petals: Four to five inches long, five and three-quarters inch wide,five per flower.

Diameter of flower: A distinguishing feature of the variety, flowers arefrom nine to eleven inches in diameter.

Number of flowers: Approximately 15 to 18 flowers per stalk in matureplants, with essentially flat appearance.

Shape: Circular and relatively flat with overlapping petals.

Filament: Each of the approximately 15 filaments attaches to the largestyle projecting from the center of the flower. Approximately one-eighthto one-quarter inches in length.

Stamens: Three-eighths inch long, Yellow Group 4D, very numerous,extending from the style.

Pistil: Three and one-quarter inch long with the stamen and stigmaattached. White Group 155D.

Stigma: Five, Yellow Group 4D.

Style: Light yellow. Long and supports the stigma.

Pollen: Yellow Group 5D.

Shape of petal: Overlapping and broadly obovate (almost reniform),recurves at the base to form a small green star of revealed calyx, withoverall circular shape.

Texture: Central one-fourth satiny, outer three-fourths velvety.

Aspect: Like fine kidskin in appearance and strongly self-supporting.

Color: Deep pink (Red-Purple Group 73A) at the margins with somewhatpaler pink (Red-Purple Group 73C) toward the center of each petal, withdeeper red eye (Red Group 45A). The eye is two and one-eighths inchwide. Constant and stable in asexually reproduced plants.

Calyx: Six sepals, one and three-quarters inch long and one andone-eighths inch wide, Green Group 139B.

Bractlets: Twelve, one and one-half inches long and one-quarter inchwide at the base, medium green (Green Group 132C).

Blooming period: Mid summer to frost with continuous color presentation.In suburban St. Louis, the blooming period typically lasts from lateJuly through August. Blooms can occur into October, depending on weatherconditions. Container plants produce flowers longer, on lateral stems,as the main stems are cut back and laterals emerge.

Lastingness of the bloom: Individual blooms allowed to remain on theplant last approximately one to three days per bloom.

Peduncle: Two to four inch extremely stiff pedicels, Green Group 132C,to support the flower during blooming and the seed pod formation later.

Fruit: One inch long and three-quarter inch wide with ten to twelveseeds.

Fragrance: Minimal.

Disease resistance: No disease problems have been noted on stalks,leaves or flowers.

Environmental conditions: The plants can stand drought or up to twoinches of rainwater without adverse effects.

Winter dormancy: The plants lose their leaves at frost and stems dieback to ground level.

Fertility: Midwest topsoil provides adequate nutrients withoutadditional fertilizer.

Regularity of bearing: Consistent year-to-year flowering has beenobserved.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hibiscus moscheutos plant, asherein shown and